Lawrence J. Vilardo
How Judge Vilardo decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In immigration-detention cases, the judge looks closely at WHO signed a revocation or termination decision and whether the record shows an individualized, case-specific finding -- a generic form letter reciting regulatory boilerplate, without more, does not satisfy him.
“there is no evidence in the record showing that the decision to terminate Bakhtani's parole was made on a case-by-case basis that "attend[ed] to the reasons" he had received parole. On the contrary, the letter Bakhtani received summarily says only that his parole was being terminated, repeating the language of the relevant regulation without any analysis.”
Procedural preferences
He applies his own prior published decisions on a recurring legal question consistently to new petitioners with similar facts, and expects the government to either meaningfully distinguish those precedents or concede the outcome, rather than re-litigating the same arguments from scratch.
“Based on the record before it, the Court cannot help but reach the same conclusion that it reached in Mata Velasquez.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the petition, Docket Item 1, is GRANTED, and the government's motion to dismiss, Docket Item 7, is DENIED. Because the Court has already ordered De Paz Velasco's temporary release ... the Court now orders that he remain released under his prior order of supervision.”
“the government's motion to dismiss, Docket Item 7, is DENIED.”
“Bakhtani's petition, Docket Item 1, is GRANTED. Within 24 hours of the issuance of this decision and order, Bakhtani must be released ... The respondents' motion to dismiss, Docket Item 8, is DENIED.”
“The respondents' motion to dismiss, Docket Item 8, is DENIED.”
“Accordingly, for the reasons explained above and in Cabrera Martinez, this Court GRANTS the petition, Docket Item 1, and ORDERS the respondents to provide the petitioner with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge within seven calendar days of the date of this order.”
“The respondents' motion to dismiss, Docket Item 22, is DENIED.”
Screening a pro se pretrial detainee's civil-rights complaint under 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A, the judge granted in forma pauperis status, allowed the excessive-force and state-law assault/battery claims against one officer to proceed to service, and dismissed the failure-to-protect claim and the official-capacity claims against the municipal defendants with leave to amend within 45 days.
“Thus, the Court GRANTS his motion for a preliminary injunction, Docket Item 7. More specifically, the Court ORDERS the respondents to provide Cabrera Martinez with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge within seven calendar days of the date of this decision and order at which the government shall bear the burden to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is a danger to the community or a flight risk.”
“As a result, the Court DENIES the respondents' motion to dismiss, Docket Item 8, and finds that Cabrera Martinez is likely to succeed on the merits of his claim.”
“For the reasons explained above, Mata Velasquez's motion for a preliminary injunction, Docket Item 23, is GRANTED. Within 24 hours of the issuance of this order, Mata Velasquez must be released.”
“Along with its response to the motion for a preliminary injunction, the government also moved to dismiss the amended petition. See Docket Item 42. To the extent that the government's motion to dismiss pertains to Mata Velasquez's procedural due process claim, it is denied.”
“For the reasons explained above, the government's motion to dismiss the amended petition is DENIED. Ceesay's petition is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. More specifically, within 24 hours of the issuance of this order, Ceesay must be released to a public place under the conditions of his order of supervision, and he must be afforded the "opportunity to prepare for an orderly departure" promised in his Release Notification.”
“For the reasons explained above, the government's motion to dismiss the amended petition is DENIED.”
“Thus, the Court GRANTS his motion for a TRO, Docket Item 8. More specifically, the Court ORDERS the respondents to provide Alvarez Ortiz with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge within seven calendar days of the date of this decision and order at which the government shall bear the burden to demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is a danger to the community or a flight risk.”
“As a result, the Court DENIES the respondents' motion to dismiss, Docket Item 12, and finds that Alvarez Ortiz is likely to succeed on the merits of his claim.”
“For the reasons stated above, Nevarez Jurado's petition, Docket Item 1, is GRANTED and the government's motion to dismiss his petition, Docket Item 10, is DENIED. Within 24 hours of the issuance of this order, Nevarez Jurado must be released.”
“For the reasons stated above, Nevarez Jurado's petition, Docket Item 1, is GRANTED and the government's motion to dismiss his petition, Docket Item 10, is DENIED.”
“For all the reasons stated above, Mohammad's petition is GRANTED. More specifically, the government shall release Mohammad within 24 hours of this decision and order.”
“For the reasons stated above, United's motion to dismiss will be granted unless, within 45 days of the date of this order, Schenck files a second amended complaint that demonstrates personal jurisdiction over United.”
“For all those reasons, Pierre has not alleged a viable Monell claim against Wyoming County. Nevertheless, and in light of Pierre's pro se status, this Court will permit Pierre to amend his complaint to state a viable Monell claim. ... Wyoming County's motion to dismiss, Docket Item 22, will be granted unless, within 45 days of the date of this order, Pierre files an amended complaint correcting the deficiencies noted above.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sampled 2018-filed cohort includes Social Security disability appeals, civil forfeiture actions brought by the government against seized property, prisoner habeas and civil-rights petitions, and bankruptcy withdrawal-of-reference matters.
Put Judge Vilardo's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Vilardo actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Vilardo's own signed orders and cites them.